OBJECTIVETo provide a theoretical basis for designing of lumbar intervertebral disc prosthesis by collecting the data of the lumbar endplate morphology.

METHODSA total of 100 healthy adults were measured about the following parameters: lumbar lordosis, the Cobb angle of each segment, the concavity depth (ECD) of the endplate, the location of concavity apex (ECA) of the endplate. And a correlation analysis on lumbar lordosis and ECD, ECA was made, respectively.

RESULTSIn total, 100 volunteers were measured. The mean age of the volunteer was 40 years (range 20 - 50 years); the average depth of ECD was (2. 37 ± 1. 42) mm, the average location of ECA was (52. 21 ± 9. 70) %; the average depth of ECD of inferior endplate (IEP) was (2. 81 ± 1. 52) mm (0. 54 - 7. 60 mm), and the parameter of the superior endplate (SEP) was (1. 94 ± 1. 16)mm(0. 39 - 6. 10 mm). The average depth of ECD of the IEP was bigger than of the SEP for each lumbar vertebral body. Most of the location of ECA was at the back of the intervertebral body, the average location of ECA of IEP was (49. 60 ± 8. 78) % (22. 57% - 75. 58%), and the parameter of the SEP was (55. 03 ± 9. 90) % (16. 03% -75. 58%); the mean angle of lumbar lordosis was 39. 760 11. 25°(13. 8° - 72. 00°). There was no obvious correlation between the lumbar lordosis and the ECD (r -0. 193, P =0. 195), neither was the location of ECA(r =0. 080, P =0. 592).

CONCLUSIONMost of the location of ECA is at the back of the intervertebral body, the average depth of ECD is 2. 37 mm, the average location of ECA is 52. 21%.

Adult ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology ; Lumbosacral Region ; anatomy & histology ; Middle Aged ; Prostheses and Implants ; Reference Standards ; Spine ; anatomy & histology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of supplementing qi and activating blood circulation method (YQHX) on platelet aggregation rate (PAgR), platelet adhesion rate (PAdR) and thromboxane B2(TXB2) level in patients with stable angina pectoris and intolerable to aspirin.

METHODSSeventy-six out-patients with stable angina (qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrom) pectoris intolerable to aspirin were randomized into two groups, 40 in the treated group and 36 in the control group. Both received conventional Western medicinal treatment with YQHX to the treated group additionally, for 1 month. PAgR, PAdR, TXB2 level, platelet count, hemoglobin concentration and fecal occult blood were measured before and 1 month after treatment, and the cardiac events as well as diges tive symptoms occurred in the observation period were recorded.

RESULTSPAgR, PAdR and TXB2 level lowered in the treated group after 1-month treatment showed a significant difference to those of baseline, and also to those in the control group (all P <0.01). But no significant difference was found between pre-treatment and post-treatment, also between the two groups in platelet count, hemoglobin concentration, fecal figure and incidence of adverse cardiac events, as well as digestive symptoms (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONYQHX can effectively inhibit the platelet function in patients with stable angina pectoris without aggravation of digestive symptoms. Cardiac event reducing effect of YQHX was not seen in this study, it is necessary for large sampled study for confirmation.

Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Drug Tolerance ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Qi ; Thromboxane B2 ; blood ; Treatment Outcome

Chinese cobra (Naja naja atra) cardiotoxins are three-fingered family with 60～62 amino acids bind by four disulfide bonds. CardiotoxinⅢ (CTXⅢ) is one of the major toxic component which can cause hemolysis and cytotoxicity. However, there is no report on the fusion expression of CTXⅢ in soluble form so far. The cloning, expression and purification of recombinant CTX Ⅲ (rCTXⅢ) from Naja naja atra in E. coli and in yeast Pichia pastoris were reported here. CTXⅢ gene, fused with enterokinase in E.coli His-patch Thioredoxin expression system, were expressed in soluble form and released by osmotic-shock treatment. CTX Ⅲ gene was also cloned and expressed in the methylotropic yeast Pichia pastoris pPIC9K expression vector in the first time. The yield of the secretion level was 9.5 mg/L. Using straightforward one-step chromatography procedure, the rCTXⅢ, with three additional amino acids (GYT) at the N-terminal site, was purified to a purity of more than 90% and recovery yield of 65%. The purified rCTX Ⅲ was further characterized by cytotoxic assay with IC50 4.66μg/ml. An effective expression and purification system for recombinant CTXs in P. pastoris was developed, this system will permit us the ready isolation of active cardiotoxins. This protocol can also be easily used for the production of the toxin in a larger scale with low cost.

OBJECTIVE: The types, contents and major themes of schizophrenic hallucinations in Shanghai and Seoul were compared for evaluating cultural differences and connotation. METHODS: Among the schizophrenic inpatients of Shanghai Mental Health Center in Shanghai and National Seoul Mental Hospital and Hanyang University Hospital in Seoul, 396 cases(182 cases in Shanghai, 214 cases in Seoul) were selected by two ways:a) five staged stratified random sampling of sex, age, education, clinical subtype and onset year, b) cases who have admitted for one to six months in their last admission. Among them, 231 cases(55.39% in Shanghai, 60.83% in Seoul) confirmed to have hallucinations were the final subjects of study. RESULTS: Frequencies in types of hallucination were not different between the two groups. However, contents and major themes were different:Political themes and related contents were dominant in Shanghai cases, and supernatural and religious themes and related contents were dominant in Seoul cases. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that contents and themes of hallucinations were closely related to the delusional contents and themes, and such patterns were considerably influenced by sociocultural characteristics.
Cross-Cultural Comparison* ; Delusions ; Education ; Hallucinations* ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Mental Health ; Psychopathology ; Schizophrenia ; Seoul

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of acupoint sticking of "Hua yutie" in improving ischemic stroke.

METHODSEighty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, a model group, an acupoint sticking group, an acupuncture group, a Nimodipine group and a normal group. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was used for preparation of focal cerebral ischemic rat model. After modeling, any treatment was not given to the model group; for the acupoint sticking group, "Hua yutie" was applied at "Dazhui" (GV 14) ,"Qihai" (CV 6) and "Mingmen" (GV 4); for the acupuncture group, acupuncture was given at the same acupoints as those in the acupoint sticking group; the Nimodipine group received intragastric administration of Nimodipine. And the normal group did not receive any treatment. Their infarction volume, the cerebral water content, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the protein level were observed.

RESULTSThe infarction volume coincided with the dominative scope of the middle cerebral artery of the electric coagulation. There were significant differences in the cerebral water content as the various treatment groups compared with that of the model group (all P<0.05). The VEGF positive cell number and the protein level around the infarction area in the acupoint sticking group were increased as compared with those in the model group (P<0.01), with no significant difference as compared with the Nimodipine group and the acupuncture group (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupoint sticking of "Hua yutie" alleviates the cerebral damage after ischemia possibly through enhancing the expression and protein level of VEGF.

Acupuncture Points ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of total lumbar disc replacement with SB Charité III prosthesis.

METHODSFrom Dec 1999 to Dec 2006, total lumbar disc replacement with SB Charité III prosthesis was performed in 65 patients affected with degenerative lumbar disc disorders. Among these patients, 48 (52 prosthesis) were followed up for more than two years (from 2.0 to 7.5 years). There were 22 males and 26 females with an average age of 43 years old (from 36 to 58 years). The diagnosis was lumbar disc herniation with low back pain in 34 patients, discogenic low back pain in 9 patients and failed lumbar disc surgery in 5 patients. All patients underwent standard anterior procedure under general anesthesia. One level replacement was done in 44 patients (L3,4 in 3, L4,5 in 23 and L5-S1 in 18), and two level procedures in 4 patients (L3,4/L4,5 in 1 and L4,5/L5-S1 in 3). Clinical and radiographic results of these patients were evaluated at each follow-up time (1, 3, 6, 12, 24 months after operation and the latest).

RESULTSThe average visual analogue scales score for pain was 9.3 before operation, changed to 4.3 one month after operation, further declined to 2.6 two years after operation and finally to 1.8 at the latest follow-up evaluation. Meanwhile, the average Oswestry Disability Index was 45.8 before operation, 28.6 one month after operation, 12.5 two years after operation and 8.2 at the latest followup evaluation. All operated levels but one maintained mobile and there was no significant loss of range of motion observed. Complications such as implant dislocation or significant subsidence of the prosthesis occurred in none case of this group. All patients but one (98%) were satisfied with the surgery at the latest follow-up evaluation.

CONCLUSIONSTotal lumbar disc replacement is an effective method for the treatment of degenerative disc disorders. Its long-term outcome remains to be verified.

Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; surgery ; Joint Prosthesis ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Non-celiac gluten sensitivity has been increasingly recognized as a predisposing factor for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms in Western populations where celiac disease (CD) is relatively common. In Asia where CD is rare, we wish to determine the prevalence of gluten protein associated serology in IBS patients, which has not been formally studied, and its relation to histological and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) markers. METHODS: We reviewed a consecutive cohort of Asian patients with IBS, who had undergone serologic testing for IgA against deamidated gliadin peptide antibodies (IgA DGP) and IgA anti-endomysium antibodies, and who also had duodenal biopsies during clinical workup. In addition, a subset of Chinese patients with positive serology was further tested for HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8. RESULTS: Of 186 patients, 34 (18%) were positive for IgA DGP; bloating, abdominal pain, belching and diarrhea were the most commonly reported symptoms but diarrhea as the most bothersome symptom was significantly more common in IgA DGP positive patients. Mildly increased intra-epithelial lymphocytes on duodenal biopsy was also more common (29% vs. 9%, P = 0.001). Nine of 21 Chinese patients tested as IgA DGP positive undertook HLA-DQ2/DQ8 testing, with only 2 being positive for HLA-DQ8. All patients with positive IgA DGP reported symptom improvement with gluten withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: We have described a series of Asian, mainly Chinese, patients with IBS who were tested positive for IgA DGP, and improved on a gluten exclusion diet. We believe this is the first report of non-celiac gluten sensitivity in Asia, a region where CD is uncommon.
Abdominal Pain ; Antibodies* ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Biopsy ; Causality ; Celiac Disease ; Cohort Studies ; Diarrhea ; Diet ; Eructation ; Gliadin* ; Glutens ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome* ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Prevalence* ; Serologic Tests

Objective To study the expressions and the clinicopathologic significance of Ezrin and PTEN protein in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.Methods The ICC tissues (the ICC group) and the corresponding para-carcinoma tissues (the control group) were collected from 50 patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC) to detect the expressions of Ezrin and PTEN protein by using SP immunohistochemistry (IHC).The clinicopathologic parameters were analyzed.Results The positive expression rates of Ezrin were 78.0％ (39/50) and 46.0％ (23/50) in the ICC group and the control group,respectively.The difference in expression between the two groups was statistically significance (P＜0.05).The expression of Ezrin in the ICC group was highly related to tumor size,differentiation grade,TNM stage,and lymphatic metastasis (P＜0.05),but it was not related to age,gender,serum CA19-9 level,hepatitis B virus infection,intrahepatic duct calculus (P＞0.05).The positive expression rates of PTEN was 46.0％ (23/50) and 88.0％ (44/50) in the ICC group and the control group,respectively.The difference in expression between the two groups was statistically significance (P＜0.05).The expression of PTEN in the ICC group was highly related to differentiation grade,TNM stage,and lymphatic metastasis (P＜0.05),but it was not related to age,gender,serum CA19-9 level,hepatitis B virus infection,tumor size,intrahepatic duct calculus (P＞0.05).There was a negative correlation between the expression of Ezrin and PTEN protein in ICC (r=-0.382,P＜0.01).Conclusion The abnormal and negative correlation between the expression of Ezrin and PTEN protein in ICC may play an important role in invasion and metastasis of ICC.

Objective To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Cucurbitacin B on the inflammatory reaction of murine alveolar macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide and its molecular mechanism. Methods The alveolar macrophages were randomly divided into five groups: blank group, LPS group, different concentrations of Cucurbitacin B (1μM, 2.5μM, 5μM)+) +LPS groups. All group cells were pretreated with different concentrations for 2 h, and followed by 1μg/mL LPS. The protein level of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and PGE2 were detected by ELISA assay, and the NO was detected by Griess methods, and its upstream protein i-NOS,COX-2, Nrf2 and HO-1 were detected by Western-blot. Results The secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and PGE2 in LPS group were increased significantly than blank groups, while Cucurbitacin B suppressed its protein level inadose-dependent manner. The nuclear erythroid related factor 2 and antioxidant gene were activated while Cucurbitacin B was added into alveolar macrophages in adose-dependent manner. Conclusion Cucurbitacin B can inhibit the extracellar secretion of inflammatory cytokines production, and its molecular mechanism could be due to the promoting Nrf2 translocation to the nucleus, activating the expression of HO-1 gene, reducing the expression of iNOS and COX-2, and thereby alleviating the inflammatory reaction.

China ; Psychology ; methods